Identifying a context for a call

Abstract

A method, system, and program for identifying a context for a call are provided. Multiple context clues for a call are detected from a line number, a line subscriber profile, a caller profile, and other parameters associated with the call. A context for the call is identified from the context clues, such that at least one party to the call is enabled to receive the context of the call. Context for the call preferably includes at least one of who is placing a call, who is receiving a call, identities of devices utilized for the call, locations of those devices, the path of line number numbers accessed for a call, a billing plan for the call, and a subject matter of the call.

1. A method for identifying a context for a call, said method comprising:
 detecting a plurality of context clues for a call; and 
 identifying a context for said call from said plurality of context clues, such that at least one party to said call is enabled to receive said context of said call. 
 
     
     
       2. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 1 , wherein detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:
 detecting at least one from among an authenticated identity of a caller of said call and an authenticated identity of a callee of said call. 
 
     
     
       3. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 1 , wherein detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:
 detecting at least one from among an identity of an origin device and an identity of a destination device. 
 
     
     
       4. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 1 , wherein detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:
 detecting at least one from among a location said call originates and a location said call terminates. 
 
     
     
       5. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 4 , wherein said location may comprise at least one from among a time zone, a country, a state, a city, a GPS location, and a building location. 
     
     
       6. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 detecting said location according to a geographical service area of at least one network system providing service to said call. 
 
     
     
       7. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 1 , wherein detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:
 detecting a subject matter of said call. 
 
     
     
       8. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 retrieving at least one subject of a previous call of at least one party to said call; and 
 prompting said at least one party to said call to select said from said at least one subject of said previous call. 
 
     
     
       9. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 1 , wherein detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:
 detecting a path of said call to a plurality of line numbers. 
 
     
     
       10. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 1 , wherein identifying a context for said call further comprises:
 identifying said context for said call at a service server operating outside a trusted telephone network. 
 
     
     
       11. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 1 , wherein identifying a context for said call further comprises:
 identifying said context for said call at an intelligent peripheral service operating inside a trusted telephone network. 
 
     
     
       12. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accessing filtering preferences for at least one party to said call; and 
 filtering said context for said call distributed to at least one other party to said call according to said filtering preferences. 
 
     
     
       13. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 filtering an identifier for said at least one party to said call according to a relationship of said at least one party to said call with said at least one other party to said call. 
 
     
     
       14. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 filtering said context for said call according to said filtering preferences for distribution to a second caller of a second call incoming during said call. 
 
     
     
       15. The method for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 1 , wherein identifying a context for a call further comprises:
 identifying that said call is forwarded to another line number. 
 
     
     
       16. A system for identifying a context for a call, said system comprising:
 a context inference server communicatively connected to a trusted telephone network; 
 means for detecting a plurality of context clues for a call at said context inference server; and 
 means for identifying a context for said call from said plurality of context clues, such that at least one party to said call is enabled to receive said context of said call. 
 
     
     
       17. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 16 , wherein said means for detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:
 means for detecting at least one from among an authenticated identity of a caller of said call and an authenticated identity of a callee of said call. 
 
     
     
       18. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 16 , wherein said means for detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:
 means for detecting at least one from among an identity of an origin device and an identity of a destination device. 
 
     
     
       19. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 16 , wherein said means for detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:
 means for detecting at least one from among a location said call originates and a location said call terminates. 
 
     
     
       20. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 19 , wherein said location may comprise at least one from among a time zone, a country, a state, a city, a GPS location, and a building location. 
     
     
       21. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 means for detecting said location according to a geographical service area of at least one network system providing service to said call. 
 
     
     
       22. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 16 , wherein said means for detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:
 means for detecting a subject matter of said call. 
 
     
     
       23. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 means for retrieving at least one subject of a previous call of at least one party to said call; and 
 means for prompting said at least one party to said call to select said from said at least one subject of said previous call. 
 
     
     
       24. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 16 , wherein said means for detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:
 means for detecting a path of said call to a plurality of line numbers. 
 
     
     
       25. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 16 , wherein said context inference server is communicatively connected to said trusted telephone network through a network external to said trusted telephone network. 
     
     
       26. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 16 , wherein said context inference service is communicatively connected within said trusted telephone network. 
     
     
       27. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 means for accessing filtering preferences for at least one party to said call; and 
 means for filtering said context for said call distributed to at least one other party to said call according to said filtering preferences. 
 
     
     
       28. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 27 , further comprising:
 means for filtering an identifier for said at least one party to said call according to a relationship of said at least one party to said call with said at least one other party to said call. 
 
     
     
       29. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 27 , further comprising:
 means for filtering said context for said call according to said filtering preferences for distribution to a second caller of a second call incoming during said call. 
 
     
     
       30. The system for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 16 , wherein said means for identifying a context for a call further comprises:
 means for identifying that said call is forwarded to another line number. 
 
     
     
       31. A computer program product for identifying a context for a call, said computer program product comprising:
 a recording medium; 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of a plurality of context clues for a call; and 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for identifying a context for said call from said plurality of context clues, such that at least one party to said call is enabled to receive said context of said call. 
 
     
     
       32. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of at least one from among an authenticated identity of a caller of said call and an authenticated identity of a callee of said call. 
 
     
     
       33. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of at least one from among an identity of an origin device and an identity of a destination device. 
 
     
     
       34. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of at least one from among a location said call originates and a location said call terminates. 
 
     
     
       35. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 34 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of said location according to a geographical service area of at least one network system providing service to said call. 
 
     
     
       36. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of a subject matter of said call. 
 
     
     
       37. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 36 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for controlling retrieval of at least one subject of a previous call of at least one party to said call; and 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for prompting said at least one party to said call to select said from said at least one subject of said previous call. 
 
     
     
       38. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of a path of said call to a plurality of line numbers. 
 
     
     
       39. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for accessing filtering preferences for at least one party to said call; and 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for filtering said context for said call distributed to at least one other party to said call according to said filtering preferences. 
 
     
     
       40. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 39 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for filtering an identifier for said at least one party to said call according to a relationship of said at least one party to said call with said at least one other party to said call. 
 
     
     
       41. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 39 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for filtering said context for said call according to said filtering preferences for distribution to a second caller of a second call incoming during said call. 
 
     
     
       42. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for identifying that said call is forwarded to another line number. 
 
     
     
       43. A method for inferring a call context comprising:
 receiving a context request for a call; 
 detecting context clues comprising at least one from among a line number, a line subscriber profile, an authenticated caller identity, an authenticated callee identity, a caller profile associated with said authenticated caller identity, a callee profile associated with said authenticated callee identity, a line number accessed for said call, and a geographical location served by switches processing said call; and 
 inferring from said context clues at least one from among who is placing said call, who is receiving said call, at least one device utilized for said call, a location of said at least one device utilized for said call, a billing plan for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call. 
 
     
     
       44. A system for inferring a call context comprising:
 a context inference server communicatively connected to a trusted telephone network; 
 means for receiving a context request for a call at said context inference server; 
 means for detecting context clues comprising at least one from among a line number, a line subscriber profile, an authenticated caller identity, an authenticated callee identity, a caller profile associated with said authenticated caller identity, a callee profile associated with said authenticated callee identity, a line number accessed for said call, and a geographical location served by switches processing said call; and 
 means for inferring from said context clues at least one from among who is placing said call, who is receiving said call, at least one device utilized for said call, a location of said at least one device utilized for said call, a billing plan for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call. 
 
     
     
       45. A computer program product for inferring a call context comprising:
 a recording medium; 
 means for enabling receipt of a context request for a call; 
 means for detecting context clues comprising at least one from among a line number, a line subscriber profile, an authenticated caller identity, an authenticated callee identity, a caller profile associated with said authenticated caller identity, a callee profile associated with said authenticated callee identity, a line number accessed for said call, and a geographical location server by switches processing said call; and 
 means for inferring from said context clues at least one from among who is placing said call, who is receiving said call, at least one device utilized for said call, a location of said at least one device utilized for said call, a billing plan for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call. 
 
     
     
       46. A method for providing a call context comprising:
 detecting a call request at a central office switch; 
 initiating a context inference service for said call; and 
 receiving a context inferred for said call from at least one from among an identity of at least one party to said call, an identity of at least one device utilized for said call, a location of said at least one device, a billing plan for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call. 
 
     
     
       47. The method for providing a call context according to  claim 46 , wherein said context inference service is located within an intelligent peripheral accessible within a trusted telephone network comprising said central office switch. 
     
     
       48. The method for providing a call context according to  claim 46 , wherein said call context inference service is located in a server system accessible via a secure network channel outside a trusted telephone network comprising said central office switch. 
     
     
       49. The method for providing a call context according to  claim 46 , further comprising:
 transferring said context inferred for said call to an origin device utilized to originate said call. 
 
     
     
       50. The method for providing a call context according to  claim 46 , further comprising:
 transferring said context inferred for said call to a destination device utilized to answer said call. 
 
     
     
       51. A system for providing a call context comprising:
 a central office switch within a trusted telephone network; 
 means for detecting a call request at said central office switch; 
 means for initiating a context inference service for said call; and 
 means for receiving a context inferred for said call from at least one from among an identity of at least one party to said call, an identity of at least one device utilized for said call, a location of said at least one device, a billing plan for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call. 
 
     
     
       52. The system for providing a call context according to  claim 51 , wherein said context inference service is located within an intelligent peripheral accessible within said trusted telephone network. 
     
     
       53. The system for providing a call context according to  claim 51 , wherein said call context inference service is located in a server system accessible via a secure network channel outside said trusted telephone network. 
     
     
       54. The system for providing a call context according to  claim 51 , further comprising:
 means for transferring said context inferred for said call to an origin device utilized to originate said call. 
 
     
     
       55. The system for providing a call context according to  claim 51 , further comprising:
 means for transferring said context inferred for said call to a destination device utilized to answer said call. 
 
     
     
       56. A computer program product for providing a call context comprising:
 a recording medium; 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for detecting a call request; 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for initiating a context inference service for said call; and 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for receiving a context inferred for said call from at least one from among an identity of at least one party to said call, an identity of at least one device utilized for said call, a location of said at least one device, a billing plan for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call. 
 
     
     
       57. The computer program product for providing a call context according to  claim 56 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for transferring said context inferred for said call to an origin device utilized to originate said call. 
 
     
     
       58. The computer program product for providing a call context according to  claim 56 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for transferring said context inferred for said call to a destination device utilized to answer said call. 
 
     
     
       59. A method for controlling output of a call context, comprising:
 receiving, in association with a call enabled by a telephony device, a tagged call context identifier at said telephony device; and 
 controlling output of said tagged call context identifier via at least one output interface accessible to said telephony device. 
 
     
     
       60. The method for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 59 , wherein said tagged call context identifier is a tagged voice identifier. 
     
     
       61. The method far controlling output of a call context according to  claim 59 , wherein said tagged call context identifier is a tagged reverse voice identifier. 
     
     
       62. The method for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 59 , wherein said tagged call context identifier comprises at least one from among, an identifier of a party to said call, a graphic identifier, a sound identifier, a video identifier, a location of a party to said call, a path of line numbers accessed for said call, a billing context for said call, and a subject matter of said call. 
     
     
       63. The method for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 59 , wherein said at least one output interface comprises at least one from among a graphical user interface and a speaker. 
     
     
       64. The method for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 59 , wherein said at least one output interface is externally accessible to said telephony device. 
     
     
       65. The method for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 59 , wherein said at least one output interface is an integrated device within said telephony device. 
     
     
       66. The method for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 59 , further comprising:
 filtering said tagged call context identifier according to output preferences selected at said telephony device. 
 
     
     
       67. The method for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 59 , further comprising:
 formatting said tagged call context identifier according to formatting styles designated at said telephony device. 
 
     
     
       68. A system for controlling output of a call context, comprising:
 a telephony device; 
 means for receiving, in association with a call enabled by said telephony device, a tagged call context identifier at said telephony device; and 
 means for controlling output of said tagged call context identifier via at least one output interface accessible to said telephony device. 
 
     
     
       69. The system for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 68 , wherein said tagged call context identifier is a tagged voice identifier. 
     
     
       70. The system for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 68 , wherein said tagged call context identifier is a tagged reverse voice identifier. 
     
     
       71. The system for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 68 , wherein said tagged call context identifier comprises at least one from among, an identifier of a party to said call, a graphic identifier, a sound identifier, a video identifier, a location of a party to said call, a path of line numbers accessed for said call, a billing context for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call. 
     
     
       72. The system for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 68 , wherein said at least one output interface comprises at least one from among a graphical user interface and a speaker. 
     
     
       73. The system for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 68 , wherein said at least one output interface is externally accessible to said telephony device. 
     
     
       74. The system for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 68 , wherein said at least one output interface is an integrated device within said telephony device. 
     
     
       75. The system for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 68 , further comprising:
 means for filtering said tagged call context identifier according to output preferences selected at said telephony device. 
 
     
     
       76. The system for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 68 , further comprising:
 means for formatting said tagged call context identifier according to formatting styles designated at said telephony device. 
 
     
     
       77. A computer program product fir controlling output of a call context, comprising:
 a recording medium; 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for receiving a tagged call context identifier at a telephony device; and 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for controlling output of said tagged call context identifier via at least one output interface accessible to said telephony device. 
 
     
     
       78. The computer program product for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 77 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for filtering said tagged call context identifier according to output preferences selected at said telephony device. 
 
     
     
       79. The computer program product for controlling output of a call context according to  claim 77 , further comprising:
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for formatting said tagged call context identifier according to formatting styles designated at said telephony device.